OHIO Eastern to present free holiday musical revue, ‘Knock, Knock! It’s Christmas!’
ĢƵ University Eastern will host "Knock, Knock! It’s Christmas!" a festive musical comedy revue, at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6, in Shannon Hall Theater. The event is free and open to the public.
Developed in 2023 by its cast in collaboration with Cheryl Pompeo, director of s School of Dance, the show follows three determined carol singers who bring Christmas cheer to a neighbor’s decidedly un-festive apartment. The performance invites audiences to sing along to familiar holiday tunes and even challenge the cast with obscure song requests, making for an interactive holiday experience.
The cast features Peter J. Lim, applications support analyst and IT coordinator at , along with Karissa Martin, Wayne McCord and Micah Underwood. Underwood plays the curmudgeonly neighbor while the trio of carolers work to deck her halls and her heart.
“These are three of my favorite performers to work with,” McCord said. “The camaraderie we share on stage makes the holiday spirit come alive for the audience.”
Lim said the chemistry among the cast is what makes the show shine.
“It’s rare to find a group of people such slightly off-kilter, but the four of us mesh so well together,” he said. “We have so much fun finding weird Christmas songs, and then figuring out how to integrate them into the show with the traditional Christmas songs.”
Pompeo envisioned the production as a small-cast Christmas show that could travel to businesses and nursing homes, making "Knock, Knock! It’s Christmas!" a unique and intimate holiday performance. Families can expect a fun afternoon filled with music, laughter, games and harmonies that showcase both well-loved carols and lesser-known holiday songs.
“The ĢƵ University Eastern campus provides a wonderful space to showcase the talent of our students and community performers,” said Richard W. Greenlee, interim dean of campus and community relations. “Hosting events like this in the allows us to celebrate the arts while bringing people together during the holiday season.”
That sense of joy carries over to the cast as well. Lim stated, “If the audience is having half as much fun as we are, then we’re having twice as much fun as they are!”
With music, laughter and plenty of holiday cheer, "Knock, Knock! It’s Christmas!" promises to be a joyful celebration for families and community members to share together this season.